A Better Approach

CCI has long reigned as the king of rimfire ammunition. The iconic company has been in business for 75 years, and it now offers an extensive line of cataloged products—far more, in fact, than any of its competitors. The manufacturer utilizes a state-of-the art production facility as well as a dedicated and experienced workforce to create this huge variety of product options.

The variety found throughout CCI’s deep product line is due to the manufacturer’s unrelenting quest to create new, useful products for shooters and hunters, and the willingness to listen to the wants and needs of its customers. That’s why the line includes a wide range of ammunition for plinkers, target and competition shooters, and small-game and varmint hunters.

But what really drives the company is its spirit of innovation, and that team spirit has helped it to stay on top of its game. A prime example of this innovative spirit is Clean-22, a new rimfire product that uses an exclusive polymer bullet coating to greatly reduce copper and lead fouling in the barrel. The polymer coating on these bullets replaces the wax that is traditionally applied to .22 LR ammunition to protect the barrel from lead or copper buildup. Wax does a decent job, but it’s far from perfect. In addition, because .22 LR ammo is waxed after the round is loaded, the heel of the bullet inside the case does not get the protective wax coating.

When CCI engineers looked at the problem, they knew they wanted a better approach. The innovative polymer coating was one answer; the other was the process by which it is applied. The Clean-22 polymer coating is put on before the bullet is loaded. Because it completely encapsulates the bullet, it does a much better job protecting the barrel.

The original launch, in 2019, of Clean-22 included three options: Sub-Sonic, High Velocity, and High Velocity Pink. All of these .22 LR loads feature a 40-grain round-nose lead bullet, and each bears its own color to instantly identify it. Red represents High Velocity, which boasts a muzzle velocity of 1,235 feet per second (fps). Blue is for Sub-Sonic, which leaves the muzzle at 1,070 fps. Both of these options are sold in 100-count, clear-sided durable boxes. Clean-22 Pink also delivers a muzzle velocity of 1,235 fps. The color helps communicate CCI’s dedication to the fight against breast cancer; a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold goes directly to the effort to find a cure. Clean-22 Pink is available in a 400-round bulk bottle that’s perfect for long days at the range.

Now CCI has increased the total number of cataloged products in its Clean-22 lineup to five. The new additions are Suppressor .22 LR and Maxi-Mag Segmented Hollow Point (SHP) .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR).

Clean-22 Suppressor .22 LR loads deliver impressive accuracy while cycling reliably through any suppressed firearm. The 45-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 1,000 feet per second (fps) and is available in 200-count cartons. This convenient, carton-style “pour pack” makes it easy to handle all the ammo needed for a big day at the range. As an added bonus, Clean-22 Suppressor makes use of the advanced polymer bullet coating to reduce lead fouling inside a suppressor by up to 60 percent.

New Clean-22 Maxi-Mag SHP is the industry’s only segmenting hollow-point bullet in .22 WMR. The load’s 46-grain Segmented Hollow Point splits into three equal-size pieces on impact, tripling the number of wound channels. The polymer bullet coating allows this separation at much lower velocities and longer distances than a conventional copper jacket. The load, available in 50-count boxes, features an olive drab green bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1,850 fps. It is an ideal round for squirrel hunters and prairie dog shooters.

CCI prides itself on listening to those who use its products, and the Clean-22 line came about as a result of customer requests for cleaner rimfire rounds. As befits a company dedicated to performance, the new polymer coating was specially developed to handle the friction and heat associated with the velocities of rimfire ammunition. But CCI also made sure the ballistic performance of the new ammo was identical to other CCI products that have the same velocities and bullet weights.

And with dependable CCI priming and consistent propellant, Clean-22 provides flawless cycling through all rimfire platforms, including semiautos. This expanded product line gives both casual and competitive shooters more options from which to choose. And that is just another reason CCI remains the ammo of choice for so many shooters (cci-ammunition.com).